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This is an archive article published on May 23, 1998

Ruby owner turns to Lord for aid

NAGPUR, May 22: Owning the biggest ruby in the world doesn't really make you a rich man, as Subash Limaye found to his dismay. This former m...

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NAGPUR, May 22: Owning the biggest ruby in the world doesn8217;t really make you a rich man, as Subash Limaye found to his dismay. This former mining contractor is the not-so-proud owner of the Gondia Ruby8217; or the Jewel Rudraksha8217;, weighing a proud 1,275 carrats.

His ruby sorrows8217; stem from the simple reason that he is an 8220;ordinary middle-class man8221; who cannot afford to 8220;keep8221; the precious stone. So he has now decided to donate it to the Lord Venkateshwara temple at Tirupathi.

8220;I wanted to get rid of it as early as possible. I wasted two years trying to find a person who can afford to purchase it. I have now decided to donate this unique and the largest double star ruby in the world to its most worthy and rightful owner, Lord Venkateshwara,8221; he told a press conference.

Subash had wanted to auction the ruby at some international forum but he had to give up the idea when he failed to find a proper sponsor.

He had also announced that 60 per cent of the proceeds would be donated to various charitableand social organisations of national repute.

8220;I received enquiries from many interested parties after reports about the unique ruby appeared in the press. But most of them wanted to keep the entire amount with themselves,8221; Limaye explained.

Besides, many of them wanted him to hand it over to them merely on the assurance that they would pay him the promised amount after auctioning the ruby.

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8220;It was hard to believe in their word. So I turned them away. After having enough of such persons I decided to donate it to Lord Venkateshwara,8221; he said.

He has written to the temple trust and is expecting an early response from them.

 

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